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[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1627 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]

                  In the Senate of the United States,

                                                         July 18, 2012.
    Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representatives (H.R. 
1627) entitled ``An Act to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide for certain requirements for the placement of monuments in 
Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes.'', do pass with 
the following

                              AMENDMENTS:

            Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
      following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Honoring America's 
Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 3. Scoring of budgetary effects.

                      TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Hospital care and medical services for veterans stationed at 
                            Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Sec. 103. Authority to waive collection of copayments for telehealth 
                            and telemedicine visits of veterans.
Sec. 104. Temporary expansion of payments and allowances for 
                            beneficiary travel in connection with 
                            veterans receiving care from Vet Centers.
Sec. 105. Contracts and agreements for nursing home care.
Sec. 106. Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault 
                            incidents and other safety incidents.
Sec. 107. Rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain 
                            injury.
Sec. 108. Teleconsultation and telemedicine.
Sec. 109. Use of service dogs on property of the Department of Veterans 
                            Affairs.
Sec. 110. Recognition of rural health resource centers in Office of 
                            Rural Health.
Sec. 111. Improvements for recovery and collection of amounts for 
                            Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care 
                            Collections Fund.
Sec. 112. Extension of authority for copayments.
Sec. 113. Extension of authority for recovery of cost of certain care 
                            and services.

                       TITLE II--HOUSING MATTERS

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Temporary expansion of eligibility for specially adapted 
                            housing assistance for certain veterans 
                            with disabilities causing difficulty with 
                            ambulating.
Sec. 203. Expansion of eligibility for specially adapted housing 
                            assistance for veterans with vision 
                            impairment.
Sec. 204. Revised limitations on assistance furnished for acquisition 
                            and adaptation of housing for disabled 
                            veterans.
Sec. 205. Improvements to assistance for disabled veterans residing in 
                            housing owned by a family member.
Sec. 206. Department of Veterans Affairs housing loan guarantees for 
                            surviving spouses of certain totally 
                            disabled veterans.
Sec. 207. Occupancy of property by dependent child of veteran for 
                            purposes of meeting occupancy requirement 
                            for Department of Veterans Affairs housing 
                            loans.
Sec. 208. Making permanent project for guaranteeing of adjustable rate 
                            mortgages.
Sec. 209. Making permanent project for insuring hybrid adjustable rate 
                            mortgages.
Sec. 210. Waiver of loan fee for individuals with disability ratings 
                            issued during pre-discharge programs.
Sec. 211. Modification of authorities for enhanced-use leases of real 
                            property.

                      TITLE III--HOMELESS MATTERS

Sec. 301. Enhancement of comprehensive service programs.
Sec. 302. Modification of authority for provision of treatment and 
                            rehabilitation to certain veterans to 
                            include provision of treatment and 
                            rehabilitation to homeless veterans who are 
                            not seriously mentally ill.
Sec. 303. Modification of grant program for homeless veterans with 
                            special needs.
Sec. 304. Collaboration in provision of case management services to 
                            homeless veterans in supported housing 
                            program.
Sec. 305. Extensions of previously fully funded authorities affecting 
                            homeless veterans.

                      TITLE IV--EDUCATION MATTERS

Sec. 401. Aggregate amount of educational assistance available to 
                            individuals who receive both survivors' and 
                            dependents' educational assistance and 
                            other veterans and related educational 
                            assistance.
Sec. 402. Annual reports on Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program 
                            and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational 
                            Assistance Program.

                       TITLE V--BENEFITS MATTERS

Sec. 501. Automatic waiver of agency of original jurisdiction review of 
                            new evidence.
Sec. 502. Authority for certain persons to sign claims filed with 
                            Secretary of Veterans Affairs on behalf of 
                            claimants.
Sec. 503. Improvement of process for filing jointly for social security 
                            and dependency and indemnity compensation.
Sec. 504. Authorization of use of electronic communication to provide 
                            notice to claimants for benefits under laws 
                            administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
                            Affairs.
Sec. 505. Duty to assist claimants in obtaining private records.
Sec. 506. Authority for retroactive effective date for awards of 
                            disability compensation in connection with 
                            applications that are fully-developed at 
                            submittal.
Sec. 507. Modification of month of death benefit for surviving spouses 
                            of veterans who die while entitled to 
                            compensation or pension.
Sec. 508. Increase in rate of pension for disabled veterans married to 
                            one another and both of whom require 
                            regular aid and attendance.
Sec. 509. Exclusion of certain reimbursements of expenses from 
                            determination of annual income with respect 
                            to pensions for veterans and surviving 
                            spouses and children of veterans.

            TITLE VI--MEMORIAL, BURIAL, AND CEMETERY MATTERS

Sec. 601. Prohibition on disruptions of funerals of members or former 
                            members of the Armed Forces.
Sec. 602. Codification of prohibition against reservation of gravesites 
                            at Arlington National Cemetery.
Sec. 603. Expansion of eligibility for presidential memorial 
                            certificates to persons who died in the 
                            active military, naval, or air service.
Sec. 604. Requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington 
                            National Cemetery.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 701. Assistance to veterans affected by natural disasters.
Sec. 702. Extension of certain expiring provisions of law.
Sec. 703. Requirement for plan for regular assessment of employees of 
                            Veterans Benefits Administration who handle 
                            processing of claims for compensation and 
                            pension.
Sec. 704. Modification of provision relating to reimbursement rate for 
                            ambulance services.
Sec. 705. Change in collection and verification of veteran income.
Sec. 706. Department of Veterans Affairs enforcement penalties for 
                            misrepresentation of a business concern as 
                            a small business concern owned and 
                            controlled by veterans or as a small 
                            business concern owned and controlled by 
                            service-disabled veterans.
Sec. 707. Quarterly reports to Congress on conferences sponsored by the 
                            Department.
Sec. 708. Publication of data on employment of certain veterans by 
                            Federal contractors.
Sec. 709. VetStar Award Program.
Sec. 710. Extended period of protections for members of uniformed 
                            services relating to mortgages, mortgage 
                            foreclosure, and eviction.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to 
be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United States 
Code.

SEC. 3. SCORING OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

    The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, shall be determined by 
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO 
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, provided that 
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

                      TITLE I--HEALTH CARE MATTERS

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Janey Ensminger Act''.

SEC. 102. HOSPITAL CARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR VETERANS STATIONED AT 
              CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA.

    (a) Hospital Care and Medical Services for Veterans.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 1710(e) is 
        amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(F) Subject to paragraph (2), a veteran who served on active duty 
in the Armed Forces at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for not fewer than 
30 days during the period beginning on January 1, 1957, and ending on 
December 31, 1987, is eligible for hospital care and medical services 
under subsection (a)(2)(F) for any of the following illnesses or 
conditions, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence 
to conclude that such illnesses or conditions are attributable to such 
service:
            ``(i) Esophageal cancer.
            ``(ii) Lung cancer.
            ``(iii) Breast cancer.
            ``(iv) Bladder cancer.
            ``(v) Kidney cancer.
            ``(vi) Leukemia.
            ``(vii) Multiple myeloma.
            ``(viii) Myleodysplasic syndromes.
            ``(ix) Renal toxicity.
            ``(x) Hepatic steatosis.
            ``(xi) Female infertility.
            ``(xii) Miscarriage.
            ``(xiii) Scleroderma.
            ``(xiv) Neurobehavioral effects.
            ``(xv) Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.''.
            (2) Limitation.--Paragraph (2)(B) of such section is 
        amended by striking ``or (E)'' and inserting ``(E), or (F)''.
    (b) Family Members.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter VIII of chapter 17 is amended 
        by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1787. Health care of family members of veterans stationed at 
              Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
    ``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), a family member of a 
veteran described in subparagraph (F) of section 1710(e)(1) of this 
title who resided at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for not fewer than 
30 days during the period described in such subparagraph or who was in 
utero during such period while the mother of such family member resided 
at such location shall be eligible for hospital care and medical 
services furnished by the Secretary for any of the illnesses or 
conditions described in such subparagraph, notwithstanding that there 
is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such illnesses or 
conditions are attributable to such residence.
    ``(b) Limitations.--(1) The Secretary may only furnish hospital 
care and medical services under subsection (a) to the extent and in the 
amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts for such purpose.
    ``(2) Hospital care and medical services may not be furnished under 
subsection (a) for an illness or condition of a family member that is 
found, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Under Secretary for 
Health, to have resulted from a cause other than the residence of the 
family member described in that subsection.
    ``(3) The Secretary may provide reimbursement for hospital care or 
medical services provided to a family member under this section only 
after the family member or the provider of such care or services has 
exhausted without success all claims and remedies reasonably available 
to the family member or provider against a third party (as defined in 
section 1725(f) of this title) for payment of such care or services, 
including with respect to health-plan contracts (as defined in such 
section).''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
        item relating to section 1786 the following new item:

``1787. Health care of family members of veterans stationed at Camp 
                            Lejeune, North Carolina.''.
    (c) Annual Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than December 31 of each of 
        2013, 2014, and 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
        the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the care and services provided 
        under sections 1710(e)(1)(F) and 1787 of title 38, United 
        States Code (as added by subsections (a) and (b)(1), 
        respectively).
            (2) Elements.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall set 
        forth the following:
                    (A) The number of veterans and family members 
                provided hospital care and medical services under the 
                provisions of law specified in paragraph (1) during the 
                period beginning on October 1, 2012, and ending on the 
                date of such report.
                    (B) The illnesses, conditions, and disabilities for 
                which care and services have been provided such 
                veterans and family members under such provisions of 
                law during that period.
                    (C) The number of veterans and family members who 
                applied for care and services under such provisions of 
                law during that period but were denied, including 
                information on the reasons for such denials.
                    (D) The number of veterans and family members who 
                applied for care and services under such provisions of 
                law and are awaiting a decision from the Secretary on 
                eligibility for such care and services as of the date 
                of such report.
    (d) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The provisions of this section and the 
        amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date 
        of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Applicability.--Subparagraph (F) of section 1710(e)(1) 
        of such title, as added by subsection (a), and section 1787 of 
        title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (b)(1), 
        shall apply with respect to hospital care and medical services 
        provided on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 103. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE COLLECTION OF COPAYMENTS FOR TELEHEALTH 
              AND TELEMEDICINE VISITS OF VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 17 is amended by 
inserting after section 1722A the following new section:
``Sec. 1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for 
              telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans
    ``The Secretary may waive the imposition or collection of 
copayments for telehealth and telemedicine visits of veterans under the 
laws administered by the Secretary.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
1722A the following new item:

``1722B. Copayments: waiver of collection of copayments for telehealth 
                            and telemedicine visits of veterans.''.

SEC. 104. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF PAYMENTS AND ALLOWANCES FOR 
              BENEFICIARY TRAVEL IN CONNECTION WITH VETERANS RECEIVING 
              CARE FROM VET CENTERS.

    (a) In General.--Beginning one year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence a three-
year initiative to assess the feasibility and advisability of paying 
under section 111(a) of title 38, United States Code, the actual 
necessary expenses of travel or allowances for travel from a residence 
located in an area that is designated by the Secretary as highly rural 
to the nearest Vet Center and from such Vet Center to such residence.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the completion of the initiative, the Secretary shall submit to 
        Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect 
        to the initiative required by subsection (a).
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A description of the individuals who benefitted 
                from payment under the initiative.
                    (B) A description of any impediments to the 
                Secretary in paying expenses or allowances under the 
                initiative.
                    (C) A description of any impediments encountered by 
                individuals in receiving such payments.
                    (D) An assessment of the feasibility and 
                advisability of paying such expenses or allowances.
                    (E) An assessment of any fraudulent receipt of 
                payment under the initiative and the recommendations of 
                the Secretary for legislative or administrative action 
                to reduce such fraud.
                    (F) Such recommendations for legislative or 
                administrative action as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate with respect to the payment of expenses or 
                allowances as described in subsection (a).
    (c) Vet Center Defined.--In this section, the term ``Vet Center'' 
means a center for readjustment counseling and related mental health 
services for veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States 
Code.

SEC. 105. CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS FOR NURSING HOME CARE.

    (a) Contracts.--Section 1745(a) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``The Secretary shall pay 
        each State home for nursing home care at the rate determined 
        under paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``The Secretary shall enter 
        into a contract (or agreement under section 1720(c)(1) of this 
        title) with each State home for payment by the Secretary for 
        nursing home care provided in the home''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following 
        new paragraph (2):
    ``(2) Payment under each contract (or agreement) between the 
Secretary and a State home under paragraph (1) shall be based on a 
methodology, developed by the Secretary in consultation with the State 
home, to adequately reimburse the State home for the care provided by 
the State home under the contract (or agreement).''.
    (b) Agreements.--Section 1720(c)(1)(A) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
        semicolon;
            (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
            ``(iii) a provider of services eligible to enter into a 
        contract pursuant to section 1745(a) of this title that is not 
        otherwise described in clause (i) or (ii).''.
    (c) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        apply to care provided on or after the date that is 180 days 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Maintenance of prior methodology of reimbursement for 
        certain state homes.--In the case of a State home that provided 
        nursing home care on the day before the date of the enactment 
        of this Act for which the State home was eligible for pay under 
        section 1745(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, at the 
        request of any State home, the Secretary shall offer to enter 
        into a contract (or agreement described in such section) with 
        such State home under such section, as amended by subsection 
        (a), for payment for nursing home care provided by such State 
        home under such section that reflects the overall methodology 
        of reimbursement for such care that was in effect for such 
        State home on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.

SEC. 106. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON REPORTING AND TRACKING SEXUAL ASSAULT 
              INCIDENTS AND OTHER SAFETY INCIDENTS.

    (a) Policy.--Subchapter I of chapter 17 is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
``Sec. 1709. Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual 
              assault incidents and other safety incidents
    ``(a) Policy Required.--(1) Not later than September 30, 2012, the 
Secretary shall develop and implement a centralized and comprehensive 
policy on the reporting and tracking of sexual assault incidents and 
other safety incidents that occur at each medical facility of the 
Department, including--
            ``(A) suspected, alleged, attempted, or confirmed cases of 
        sexual assault, regardless of whether such assaults lead to 
        prosecution or conviction;
            ``(B) criminal and purposefully unsafe acts;
            ``(C) alcohol or substance abuse related acts (including by 
        employees of the Department); and
            ``(D) any kind of event involving alleged or suspected 
        abuse of a patient.
    ``(2) In developing and implementing a policy under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall consider the effects of such policy on--
            ``(A) the use by veterans of mental health care and 
        substance abuse treatments; and
            ``(B) the ability of the Department to refer veterans to 
        such care or treatment.
    ``(b) Scope.--The policy required by subsection (a) shall cover 
each of the following:
            ``(1) For purposes of reporting and tracking sexual assault 
        incidents and other safety incidents, definitions of the 
        terms--
                    ``(A) `safety incident';
                    ``(B) `sexual assault'; and
                    ``(C) `sexual assault incident'.
            ``(2)(A) The development and use of specific risk-
        assessment tools to examine any risks related to sexual assault 
        that a veteran may pose while being treated at a medical 
        facility of the Department, including clear and consistent 
        guidance on the collection of information related to--
                    ``(i) the legal history of the veteran; and
                    ``(ii) the medical record of the veteran.
            ``(B) In developing and using tools under subparagraph (A), 
        the Secretary shall consider the effects of using such tools on 
        the use by veterans of health care furnished by the Department.
            ``(3) The mandatory training of employees of the Department 
        on security issues, including awareness, preparedness, 
        precautions, and police assistance.
            ``(4) The mandatory implementation, use, and regular 
        testing of appropriate physical security precautions and 
        equipment, including surveillance camera systems, computer-
        based panic alarm systems, stationary panic alarms, and 
        electronic portable personal panic alarms.
            ``(5) Clear, consistent, and comprehensive criteria and 
        guidance with respect to an employee of the Department 
        communicating and reporting sexual assault incidents and other 
        safety incidents to--
                    ``(A) supervisory personnel of the employee at--
                            ``(i) a medical facility of the Department;
                            ``(ii) an office of a Veterans Integrated 
                        Service Network; and
                            ``(iii) the central office of the Veterans 
                        Health Administration; and
                    ``(B) a law enforcement official of the Department.
            ``(6) Clear and consistent criteria and guidelines with 
        respect to an employee of the Department referring and 
        reporting to the Office of Inspector General of the Department 
        sexual assault incidents and other safety incidents that meet 
        the regulatory criminal threshold prescribed under sections 901 
        and 902 of this title.
            ``(7) An accountable oversight system within the Veterans 
        Health Administration that includes--
                    ``(A) systematic information sharing of reported 
                sexual assault incidents and other safety incidents 
                among officials of the Administration who have 
                programmatic responsibility; and
                    ``(B) a centralized reporting, tracking, and 
                monitoring system for such incidents.
            ``(8) Consistent procedures and systems for law enforcement 
        officials of the Department with respect to investigating, 
        tracking, and closing reported sexual assault incidents and 
        other safety incidents.
            ``(9) Clear and consistent guidance for the clinical 
        management of the treatment of sexual assaults that are 
        reported more than 72 hours after the assault.
    ``(c) Updates to Policy.--The Secretary shall review and revise the 
policy required by subsection (a) on a periodic basis as the Secretary 
considers appropriate and in accordance with best practices.
    ``(d) Annual Report.--(1) Not later than 60 days after the date on 
which the Secretary develops the policy required by subsection (a) and 
not later than October 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report 
on the implementation of the policy.
    ``(2) The report required by paragraph (1) shall include--
            ``(A) the number and type of sexual assault incidents and 
        other safety incidents reported by each medical facility of the 
        Department;
            ``(B) a detailed description of the implementation of the 
        policy required by subsection (a), including any revisions made 
        to such policy from the previous year; and
            ``(C) the effectiveness of such policy on improving the 
        safety and security of the medical facilities of the 
        Department, including the performance measures used to evaluate 
        such effectiveness.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 
1708 the following new item:

``1709. Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault 
                            incidents and other safety incidents.''.
    (c) Interim Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the 
development of the policy required by section 1709 of title 38, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a).

SEC. 107. REHABILITATIVE SERVICES FOR VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN 
              INJURY.

    (a) Rehabilitation Plans and Services.--Section 1710C is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting before the semicolon 
        the following: ``with the goal of maximizing the individual's 
        independence'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``(and sustaining 
                        improvement in)'' after ``improving'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``behavioral,'' after 
                        ``cognitive,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``rehabilitative 
                services and'' before ``rehabilitative components''; 
                and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by striking ``treatments'' the first 
                        place it appears and inserting ``services''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by striking ``treatments and'' the 
                        second place it appears; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Rehabilitative Services Defined.--For purposes of this 
section, and sections 1710D and 1710E of this title, the term 
`rehabilitative services' includes--
            ``(1) rehabilitative services, as defined in section 1701 
        of this title;
            ``(2) treatment and services (which may be of ongoing 
        duration) to sustain, and prevent loss of, functional gains 
        that have been achieved; and
            ``(3) any other rehabilitative services or supports that 
        may contribute to maximizing an individual's independence.''.
    (b) Rehabilitation Services in Comprehensive Program for Long-term 
Rehabilitation.--Section 1710D(a) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and rehabilitative services (as defined 
        in section 1710C of this title)'' after ``long-term care''; and
            (2) by striking ``treatment''.
    (c) Rehabilitation Services in Authority for Cooperative Agreements 
for Use of Non-Department Facilities for Rehabilitation.--Section 
1710E(a) is amended by inserting ``, including rehabilitative services 
(as defined in section 1710C of this title),'' after ``medical 
services''.
    (d) Technical Amendment.--Section 1710C(c)(2)(S) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``opthamologist'' and 
inserting ``ophthalmologist''.

SEC. 108. TELECONSULTATION AND TELEMEDICINE.

    (a) Teleconsultation.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter I of chapter 17, as amended by 
        section 106(a), is further amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:
``Sec. 1709A. Teleconsultation
    ``(a) Teleconsultation.--(1) The Secretary shall carry out an 
initiative of teleconsultation for the provision of remote mental 
health and traumatic brain injury assessments in facilities of the 
Department that are not otherwise able to provide such assessments 
without contracting with third-party providers or reimbursing providers 
through a fee basis system.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall, in consultation with appropriate 
professional societies, promulgate technical and clinical care 
standards for the use of teleconsultation services within facilities of 
the Department.
    ``(3) In carrying out an initiative under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall ensure that facilities of the Department are able to 
provide a mental health or traumatic brain injury assessment to a 
veteran through contracting with a third-party provider or reimbursing 
a provider through a fee basis system when--
            ``(A) such facilities are not able to provide such 
        assessment to the veteran without--
                    ``(i) such contracting or reimbursement; or
                    ``(ii) teleconsultation; and
            ``(B) providing such assessment with such contracting or 
        reimbursement is more clinically appropriate for the veteran 
        than providing such assessment with teleconsultation.
    ``(b) Teleconsultation Defined.--In this section, the term 
`teleconsultation' means the use by a health care specialist of 
telecommunications to assist another health care provider in rendering 
a diagnosis or treatment.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item 
        relating to section 1709, as added by section 106(b), the 
        following new item:

``1709A. Teleconsultation.''.
    (b) Training in Telemedicine.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, 
        to the extent feasible, offer medical residents opportunities 
        in training in telemedicine for medical residency programs. The 
        Secretary shall consult with the Accreditation Council for 
        Graduate Medical Education and with universities with which 
        facilities of the Department have a major affiliation to 
        determine the feasibility and advisability of making telehealth 
        a mandatory component of medical residency programs.
            (2) Telemedicine defined.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``telemedicine'' means the use by a health care provider of 
        telecommunications to assist in the diagnosis or treatment of a 
        patient's medical condition.

SEC. 109. USE OF SERVICE DOGS ON PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
              AFFAIRS.

    Section 901 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(f)(1) The Secretary may not prohibit the use of a covered 
service dog in any facility or on any property of the Department or in 
any facility or on any property that receives funding from the 
Secretary.
    ``(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered service dog is a 
service dog that has been trained by an entity that is accredited by an 
appropriate accrediting body that evaluates and accredits organizations 
which train guide or service dogs.''.

SEC. 110. RECOGNITION OF RURAL HEALTH RESOURCE CENTERS IN OFFICE OF 
              RURAL HEALTH.

    Section 7308 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(d) Rural Health Resource Centers.--(1) There are, in the Office, 
veterans rural health resource centers that serve as satellite offices 
for the Office.
    ``(2) The veterans rural health resource centers have purposes as 
follows:
            ``(A) To improve the understanding of the Office of the 
        challenges faced by veterans living in rural areas.
            ``(B) To identify disparities in the availability of health 
        care to veterans living in rural areas.
            ``(C) To formulate practices or programs to enhance the 
        delivery of health care to veterans living in rural areas.
            ``(D) To develop special practices and products for the 
        benefit of veterans living in rural areas and for 
        implementation of such practices and products in the Department 
        systemwide.''.

SEC. 111. IMPROVEMENTS FOR RECOVERY AND COLLECTION OF AMOUNTS FOR 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CARE COLLECTIONS 
              FUND.

    (a) Development and Implementation of Plan for Recovery and 
Collection.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall develop and implement a plan to ensure the recovery and 
        collection of amounts under the provisions of law described in 
        section 1729A(b) of title 38, United States Code, for deposit 
        in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Care Collections 
        Fund.
            (2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) An effective process to identify billable fee 
                claims.
                    (B) Effective and practicable policies and 
                procedures that ensure recovery and collection of 
                amounts described in section 1729A(b) of such title.
                    (C) The training of employees of the Department, on 
                or before September 30, 2013, who are responsible for 
                the recovery or collection of such amounts to enable 
                such employees to comply with the process required by 
                subparagraph (A) and the policies and procedures 
                required by subparagraph (B).
                    (D) Fee revenue goals for the Department.
                    (E) An effective monitoring system to ensure 
                achievement of goals described in subparagraph (D) and 
                compliance with the policies and procedures described 
                in subparagraph (B).
    (b) Monitoring of Third-party Collections.--The Secretary shall 
monitor the recovery and collection of amounts from third parties (as 
defined in section 1729(i) of such title) for deposit in such fund.

SEC. 112. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR COPAYMENTS.

    Section 1710(f)(2)(B) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2012'' 
and inserting ``September 30, 2013''.

SEC. 113. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR RECOVERY OF COST OF CERTAIN CARE 
              AND SERVICES.

    Section 1729(a)(2)(E) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2012'' 
and inserting ``October 1, 2013''.

                       TITLE II--HOUSING MATTERS

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Andrew Connelly Veterans Housing 
Act''.

SEC. 202. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED 
              HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES 
              CAUSING DIFFICULTY WITH AMBULATING.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 2101(a) is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(2)(A) A veteran is described in this paragraph if the veteran--
            ``(i) is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this 
        title for a permanent and total service-connected disability 
        that meets any of the criteria described in subparagraph (B); 
        or
            ``(ii) served in the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 
        2001, and is entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this 
        title for a permanent service-connected disability that meets 
        the criterion described in subparagraph (C).
    ``(B) The criteria described in this subparagraph are as follows:
            ``(i) The disability is due to the loss, or loss of use, of 
        both lower extremities such as to preclude locomotion without 
        the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.
            ``(ii) The disability is due to--
                    ``(I) blindness in both eyes, having only light 
                perception, plus (ii) loss or loss of use of one lower 
                extremity.
            ``(iii) The disability is due to the loss or loss of use of 
        one lower extremity together with--
                    ``(I) residuals of organic disease or injury; or
                    ``(II) the loss or loss of use of one upper 
                extremity,
        which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to 
        preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, 
        or a wheelchair.
            ``(iv) The disability is due to the loss, or loss of use, 
        of both upper extremities such as to preclude use of the arms 
        at or above the elbows.
            ``(v) The disability is due to a severe burn injury (as 
        determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the 
        Secretary).
    ``(C) The criterion described in this subparagraph is that the 
disability--
            ``(i) was incurred on or after September 11, 2001; and
            ``(ii) is due to the loss or loss of use of one or more 
        lower extremities which so affects the functions of balance or 
        propulsion as to preclude ambulating without the aid of braces, 
        crutches, canes, or a wheelchair.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 2012.
    (c) Sunset.--Subsection (a) of section 2101 is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``to paragraph (3)'' and 
        inserting ``to paragraphs (3) and (4)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(4) The Secretary's authority to furnish assistance under 
paragraph (1) to a disabled veteran described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) 
shall apply only with respect to applications for such assistance 
approved by the Secretary on or before September 30, 2013.''.

SEC. 203. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING 
              ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 2101(b) is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(2) A veteran is described in this paragraph if the veteran is 
entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this title for a service-
connected disability that meets any of the following criteria:
            ``(A) The disability is due to blindness in both eyes, 
        having central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better 
        eye with the use of a standard correcting lens. For the 
        purposes of this subparagraph, an eye with a limitation in the 
        fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual 
        field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees shall be 
        considered as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less.
            ``(B) A permanent and total disability that includes the 
        anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands.
            ``(C) A permanent and total disability that is due to a 
        severe burn injury (as so determined).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 2012.

SEC. 204. REVISED LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE FURNISHED FOR ACQUISITION 
              AND ADAPTATION OF HOUSING FOR DISABLED VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (d) of section 2102 is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(d)(1) The aggregate amount of assistance available to an 
individual under section 2101(a) of this title shall be limited to 
$63,780.
    ``(2) The aggregate amount of assistance available to an individual 
under section 2101(b) of this title shall be limited to $12,756.
    ``(3) No veteran may receive more than three grants of assistance 
under this chapter.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to assistance 
provided under sections 2101(a), 2101(b), and 2102A of title 38, United 
States Code, after such date.
    (c) Maintenance of Higher Rates.--The amendment made by subsection 
(a) shall not be construed to decrease the aggregate amount of 
assistance available to an individual under the sections described in 
subsection (b), as most recently increased by the Secretary pursuant to 
section 2102(e) of such title.

SEC. 205. IMPROVEMENTS TO ASSISTANCE FOR DISABLED VETERANS RESIDING IN 
              HOUSING OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER.

    (a) Increased Assistance.--Subsection (b) of section 2102A is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$14,000'' and inserting 
        ``$28,000''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting 
        ``$5,000''.
    (b) Indexing of Levels of Assistance.--Such subsection is further 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
            (2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated 
        by paragraph (1), by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph (2):
    ``(2) Effective on October 1 of each year (beginning in 2012), the 
Secretary shall use the same percentage calculated pursuant to section 
2102(e) of this title to increase the amounts described in paragraph 
(1) of this subsection.''.
    (c) Extension of Authority for Assistance.--Subsection (e) of such 
section is amended by striking ``December 31, 2012'' and inserting 
``December 31, 2022''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with 
respect to assistance furnished in accordance with section 2102A of 
title 38, United States Code, on or after that date.

SEC. 206. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING LOAN GUARANTEES FOR 
              SURVIVING SPOUSES OF CERTAIN TOTALLY DISABLED VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 3701(b) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph:
            ``(6) The term `veteran' also includes, for purposes of 
        home loans, the surviving spouse of a veteran who died and who 
        was in receipt of or entitled to receive (or but for the 
        receipt of retired or retirement pay was entitled to receive) 
        compensation at the time of death for a service-connected 
        disability rated totally disabling if--
                    ``(A) the disability was continuously rated totally 
                disabling for a period of 10 or more years immediately 
                preceding death;
                    ``(B) the disability was continuously rated totally 
                disabling for a period of not less than five years from 
                the date of such veteran's discharge or other release 
                from active duty; or
                    ``(C) the veteran was a former prisoner of war who 
                died after September 30, 1999, and the disability was 
                continuously rated totally disabling for a period of 
                not less than one year immediately preceding death.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to a loan guaranteed after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.
    (c) Clarification With Respect to Certain Fees.--Fees shall be 
collected under section 3729 of title 38, United States Code, from a 
person described in paragraph (6) of section 3701(b) of such title, as 
added by subsection (a) of this section, in the same manner as such 
fees are collected from a person described in paragraph (2) of section 
3701(b) of such title.

SEC. 207. OCCUPANCY OF PROPERTY BY DEPENDENT CHILD OF VETERAN FOR 
              PURPOSES OF MEETING OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT 
              OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING LOANS.

    Paragraph (2) of section 3704(c) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(2) In any case in which a veteran is in active-duty status as a 
member of the Armed Forces and is unable to occupy a property because 
of such status, the occupancy requirements of this chapter shall be 
considered to be satisfied if--
            ``(A) the spouse of the veteran occupies or intends to 
        occupy the property as a home and the spouse makes the 
        certification required by paragraph (1) of this subsection; or
            ``(B) a dependent child of the veteran occupies or will 
        occupy the property as a home and the veteran's attorney-in-
        fact or legal guardian of the dependent child makes the 
        certification required by paragraph (1) of this subsection.''.

SEC. 208. MAKING PERMANENT PROJECT FOR GUARANTEEING OF ADJUSTABLE RATE 
              MORTGAGES.

    Section 3707(a) is amended by striking ``demonstration project 
under this section during fiscal years 1993 through 2012'' and 
inserting ``project under this section''.

SEC. 209. MAKING PERMANENT PROJECT FOR INSURING HYBRID ADJUSTABLE RATE 
              MORTGAGES.

    Section 3707A(a) is amended by striking ``demonstration project 
under this section during fiscal years 2004 through 2012'' and 
inserting ``project under this section''.

SEC. 210. WAIVER OF LOAN FEE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY RATINGS 
              ISSUED DURING PRE-DISCHARGE PROGRAMS.

    Paragraph (2) of section 3729(c) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(2)(A) A veteran described in subparagraph (B) shall be treated 
as receiving compensation for purposes of this subsection as of the 
date of the rating described in such subparagraph without regard to 
whether an effective date of the award of compensation is established 
as of that date.
    ``(B) A veteran described in this subparagraph is a veteran who is 
rated eligible to receive compensation--
            ``(i) as the result of a pre-discharge disability 
        examination and rating; or
            ``(ii) based on a pre-discharge review of existing medical 
        evidence (including service medical and treatment records) that 
        results in the issuance of a memorandum rating.''.

SEC. 211. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITIES FOR ENHANCED-USE LEASES OF REAL 
              PROPERTY.

    (a) Supportive Housing Defined.--Section 8161 is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) The term `supportive housing' means housing that 
        engages tenants in on-site and community-based support services 
        for veterans or their families that are at risk of homelessness 
        or are homeless. Such term may include the following:
                    ``(A) Transitional housing.
                    ``(B) Single-room occupancy.
                    ``(C) Permanent housing.
                    ``(D) Congregate living housing.
                    ``(E) Independent living housing.
                    ``(F) Assisted living housing.
                    ``(G) Other modalities of housing.''.
    (b) Modification of Limitations on Enhanced Use Leases.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (2) of section 8162(a) is 
        amended to read as follows:
    ``(2) The Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use lease only for 
the provision of supportive housing and the lease is not inconsistent 
with and will not adversely affect the mission of the Department.''.
            (2) Effective date.--
                    (A) In general.--Paragraph (2) of section 8162(a) 
                of title 38, United States Code, as amended by 
                paragraph (1), shall take effect on January 1, 2012, 
                and shall apply with respect to enhanced-use leases 
                entered into on or after such date.
                    (B) Previous leases.--Any enhanced-use lease that 
                the Secretary has entered into prior to the date 
                described in subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the 
                provisions of subchapter V of chapter 81 of such title, 
                as in effect on the day before the date of the 
                enactment of this Act.
    (c) Consideration for and Terms of Enhanced-use Leases.--
            (1) In general.--Section 8162(b) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(A) If the 
                Secretary'' and all that follows through ``under 
                subparagraph (A).'' and inserting the following: ``If 
                the Secretary has determined that a property should be 
                leased to another party through an enhanced-use lease, 
                the Secretary shall, at the Secretary's discretion, 
                select the party with whom the lease will be entered 
                into using such selection procedures as the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.'';
                    (B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
    ``(3)(A) For any enhanced-use lease entered into by the Secretary, 
the lease consideration provided to the Secretary shall consist solely 
of cash at fair value as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall receive no other type of consideration 
for an enhanced-use lease besides cash.
    ``(C) The Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use lease without 
receiving consideration.'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``Secretary to'' 
                and all that follows through ``use minor'' and 
                inserting ``Secretary to use minor''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
    ``(5) The terms of an enhanced-use lease may not provide for any 
acquisition, contract, demonstration, exchange, grant, incentive, 
procurement, sale, other transaction authority, service agreement, use 
agreement, lease, or lease-back by the Secretary or Federal Government.
    ``(6) The Secretary may not enter into an enhanced-use lease 
without certification in advance in writing by the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget that such lease complies with the 
requirements of this subchapter.''.
            (2) Effective date.--Paragraph (3) of section 8162(b), as 
        amended by paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, shall take 
        effect on January 1, 2012, and shall apply with respect to 
        enhanced-use leases entered into on or after such date.
    (d) Prohibited Enhanced-use Leases.--Section 8162(c) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1) Subject to 
        paragraph (2), the'' and inserting ``The''.
    (e) Disposition of Leased Property.--Subsection (b) of section 8164 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) A disposition under this section may be made in return for 
cash at fair value as the Secretary determines is in the best interest 
of the United States and upon such other terms and conditions as the 
Secretary considers appropriate.''.
    (f) Use of Amounts Received for Disposition of Leased Property.--
Section 8165(a)(2) is amended by striking ``in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Capital Asset Fund established under section 8118 of 
this title'' and inserting ``into the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Construction, Major Projects account or Construction, Minor Projects 
account, as the Secretary considers appropriate''.
    (g) Construction Standards.--Section 8166 is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 8166. Construction standards
    ``The construction, alteration, repair, remodeling, or improvement 
of a property that is the subject of an enhanced-use lease shall be 
carried out so as to comply with all applicable provisions of Federal, 
State, and local law relating to land use, building standards, permits, 
and inspections.''.
    (h) Exemption From State and Local Taxes.--Section 8167 is amended 
to read as follows:
``Sec. 8167. Exemption from State and local taxes
    ``(a) Improvements and Operations Not Exempted.--The improvements 
and operations on land leased by a person with an enhanced-use lease 
from the Secretary shall be subject to all applicable provisions of 
Federal, State, or local law relating to taxation, fees, and 
assessments.
    ``(b) Underlying Fee Title Interest Exempted.--The underlying fee 
title interest of the United States in any land subject to an enhanced-
use lease shall not be subject, directly or indirectly, to any 
provision of State or local law relating to taxation, fees, or 
assessments.''.
    (i) Annual Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter V of chapter 81 is amended by 
        inserting after section 8167 the following new section:
``Sec. 8168. Annual reports
    ``(a) Report on Administration of Leases.--Not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of the Honoring America's Veterans and 
Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 and not less frequently 
than once each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
a report identifying the actions taken by the Secretary to implement 
and administer enhanced-use leases.
    ``(b) Report on Lease Consideration.--Each year, as part of the 
annual budget submission of the President to Congress under section 
1105(a) of title 31, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a detailed 
report of the consideration received by the Secretary for each 
enhanced-use lease under this subchapter, along with an overview of how 
the Secretary is utilizing such consideration to support veterans.''.
            (2) Elements of initial report.--The first report submitted 
        by the Secretary under section 8168(a) of title 38, United 
        States Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall include a summary 
        of those measures the Secretary is taking to address the 
        following recommendations from the February 9, 2012, audit 
        report of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of 
        Inspector General on enhanced-use leases under subchapter V of 
        chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code:
                    (A) Improve standards to ensure complete lease 
                agreements are negotiated in line with strategic goals 
                of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
                    (B) Institute improved policies and procedures to 
                govern activities such as monitoring enhanced-use lease 
                projects and calculating, classifying, and reporting on 
                enhanced-use lease benefits and expenses.
                    (C) Recalculate and update enhanced-use lease 
                expenses and benefits reported in the most recent 
                Enhanced-Use Lease Consideration Report of the 
                Department.
                    (D) Establish improved oversight mechanisms to 
                ensure major enhanced-use lease project decisions are 
                documented and maintained in accordance with policy.
                    (E) Establish improved criteria to measure 
                timeliness and performance in enhanced-use lease 
                project development and execution.
                    (F) Establish improved criteria and guidelines for 
                assessing projects to determine whether they are or 
                remain viable candidates for enhanced-use leases.
            (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 81 is amended by inserting after the item 
        relating to section 8167 the following new item:

``8168. Annual reports.''.
    (j) Expiration of Authority.--Section 8169 is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2023''.
    (k) Effective Date.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, 
the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of this Act.

                      TITLE III--HOMELESS MATTERS

SEC. 301. ENHANCEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Enhancement of Grants.--Section 2011 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``expansion, 
        remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings, or acquisition 
        of facilities,'' and inserting ``new construction of 
        facilities, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing 
        facilities, or acquisition of facilities,''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``A grant'' 
                and inserting ``(1) A grant'';
                    (B) in the second sentence of paragraph (1), as 
                designated by subparagraph (A), by striking ``The 
                amount'' and inserting the following:
    ``(2) The amount''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(3)(A) The Secretary may not deny an application from an entity 
that seeks a grant under this section to carry out a project described 
in subsection (b)(1)(A) solely on the basis that the entity proposes to 
use funding from other private or public sources, if the entity 
demonstrates that a private nonprofit organization will provide 
oversight and site control for the project.
    ``(B) In this paragraph, the term `private nonprofit organization' 
means the following:
            ``(i) An incorporated private institution, organization, or 
        foundation--
                    ``(I) that has received, or has temporary clearance 
                to receive, tax-exempt status under paragraph (2), (3), 
                or (19) of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code 
                of 1986;
                    ``(II) for which no part of the net earnings of the 
                institution, organization, or foundation inures to the 
                benefit of any member, founder, or contributor of the 
                institution, organization, or foundation; and
                    ``(III) that the Secretary determines is 
                financially responsible.
            ``(ii) A for-profit limited partnership or limited 
        liability company, the sole general partner or manager of which 
        is an organization that is described by subclauses (I) through 
        (III) of clause (i).
            ``(iii) A corporation wholly owned and controlled by an 
        organization that is described by subclauses (I) through (III) 
        of clause (i).''.
    (b) Grant and Per Diem Payments.--
            (1) Study and development of fiscal controls and payment 
        method.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall--
                    (A) complete a study of all matters relating to the 
                method used by the Secretary to make per diem payments 
                under section 2012(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
                including changes anticipated by the Secretary in the 
                cost of furnishing services to homeless veterans and 
                accounting for costs of providing such services in 
                various geographic areas;
                    (B) develop more effective and efficient procedures 
                for fiscal control and fund accounting by recipients of 
                grants under sections 2011, 2012, and 2061 of such 
                title; and
                    (C) develop a more effective and efficient method 
                for adequately reimbursing recipients of grants under 
                section 2011 of such title for services furnished to 
                homeless veterans.
            (2) Consideration.--In developing the method required by 
        paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary may consider payments and 
        grants received by recipients of grants described in such 
        paragraph from other departments and agencies of Federal and 
        local governments and from private entities.
            (3) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
        report on--
                    (A) the findings of the Secretary with respect to 
                the study required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph 
                (1);
                    (B) the methods developed under subparagraphs (B) 
                and (C) of such paragraph; and
                    (C) any recommendations of the Secretary for 
                revising the method described in subparagraph (A) of 
                such paragraph and any legislative action the Secretary 
                considers necessary to implement such method.

SEC. 302. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROVISION OF TREATMENT AND 
              REHABILITATION TO CERTAIN VETERANS TO INCLUDE PROVISION 
              OF TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION TO HOMELESS VETERANS WHO 
              ARE NOT SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL.

    Section 2031(a) is amended in the matter before paragraph (1) by 
striking ``, including'' and inserting ``and to''.

SEC. 303. MODIFICATION OF GRANT PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH 
              SPECIAL NEEDS.

    (a) Inclusion of Entities Eligible for Comprehensive Service 
Program Grants and Per Diem Payments for Services to Homeless 
Veterans.--Subsection (a) of section 2061 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``to grant and per diem providers'' and 
        inserting ``to entities eligible for grants and per diem 
        payments under sections 2011 and 2012 of this title''; and
            (2) by striking ``by those facilities and providers'' and 
        inserting ``by those facilities and entities''.
    (b) Inclusion of Male Homeless Veterans With Minor Dependents.--
Subsection (b) of such section is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``, including women who 
        have care of minor dependents'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'';
            (3) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) individuals who have care of minor dependents.''.
    (c) Authorization of Provision of Services to Dependents.--Such 
section is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
        subsection (c):
    ``(c) Provision of Services to Dependents.--A recipient of a grant 
under subsection (a) may use amounts under the grant to provide 
services directly to a dependent of a homeless veteran with special 
needs who is under the care of such homeless veteran while such 
homeless veteran receives services from the grant recipient under this 
section.''.

SEC. 304. COLLABORATION IN PROVISION OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO 
              HOMELESS VETERANS IN SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consider 
entering into contracts or agreements, under sections 513 and 8153 of 
title 38, United States Code, with eligible entities to collaborate 
with the Secretary in the provision of case management services to 
covered veterans as part of the supported housing program carried out 
under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) to ensure that the homeless veterans facing the 
most significant difficulties in obtaining suitable housing receive the 
assistance they require to obtain such housing.
    (b) Covered Veterans.--For purposes of this section, a covered 
veteran is any veteran who, at the time of receipt of a housing voucher 
under such section 8(o)(19)--
            (1) requires the assistance of a case manager in obtaining 
        suitable housing with such voucher; and
            (2) is having difficulty obtaining the amount of such 
        assistance the veteran requires, including because--
                    (A) the veteran resides in an area that has a 
                shortage of low-income housing and because of such 
                shortage the veteran requires more assistance from a 
                case manager than the Secretary otherwise provides;
                    (B) the location in which the veteran resides is 
                located at such distance from facilities of the 
                Department of Veterans Affairs as makes the provision 
                of case management services by the Secretary to such 
                veteran impractical; or
                    (C) the veteran resides in an area where veterans 
                who receive case management services from the Secretary 
                under such section have a significantly lower average 
                rate of successfully obtaining suitable housing than 
                the average rate of successfully obtaining suitable 
                housing for all veterans receiving such services.
    (c) Eligible Entities.--For purposes of this section, an eligible 
entity is any State or local government agency, tribal organization (as 
such term is defined in section 4 of the Indian Self Determination and 
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)), or nonprofit organization 
that--
            (1) under a contract or agreement described in subsection 
        (a), agrees--
                    (A) to ensure access to case management services by 
                covered veterans on an as-needed basis;
                    (B) to maintain referral networks for covered 
                veterans for purposes of assisting covered veterans in 
                demonstrating eligibility for assistance and additional 
                services under entitlement and assistance programs 
                available for covered veterans, and to otherwise aid 
                covered veterans in obtaining such assistance and 
                services;
                    (C) to ensure the confidentiality of records 
                maintained by the entity on covered veterans receiving 
                services through the supported housing program 
                described in subsection (a);
                    (D) to establish such procedures for fiscal control 
                and fund accounting as the Secretary of Veterans 
                Affairs considers appropriate to ensure proper 
                disbursement and accounting of funds under a contract 
                or agreement entered into by the entity as described in 
                subsection (a);
                    (E) to submit to the Secretary each year, in such 
                form and such manner as the Secretary may require, a 
                report on the collaboration undertaken by the entity 
                under a contract or agreement described in such 
                subsection during the most recent fiscal year, 
                including a description of, for the year covered by the 
                report--
                            (i) the services and assistance provided to 
                        covered veterans as part of such collaboration;
                            (ii) the process by which covered veterans 
                        were referred to the entity for such services 
                        and assistance;
                            (iii) the specific goals jointly set by the 
                        entity and the Secretary for the provision of 
                        such services and assistance and whether the 
                        entity achieved such goals; and
                            (iv) the average length of time taken by a 
                        covered veteran who received such services and 
                        assistance to successfully obtain suitable 
                        housing and the average retention rate of such 
                        a veteran in such housing; and
                    (F) to meet such other requirements as the 
                Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of 
                providing assistance to covered veterans in obtaining 
                suitable housing; and
            (2) has demonstrated experience in--
                    (A) identifying and serving homeless veterans, 
                especially those who have the greatest difficulty 
                obtaining suitable housing;
                    (B) working collaboratively with the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs or the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development;
                    (C) conducting outreach to, and maintaining 
                relationships with, landlords to encourage and 
                facilitate participation by landlords in supported 
                housing programs similar to the supported housing 
                program described in subsection (a);
                    (D) mediating disputes between landlords and 
                veterans receiving assistance under such supported 
                housing program; and
                    (E) carrying out such other activities as the 
                Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate.
    (d) Consultation.--In considering entering into contracts or 
agreements as described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall consult with--
            (1) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and
            (2) third parties that provide services as part of the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development continuum of care.
    (e) Technical Assistance for Collaborating Entities.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may provide training and 
        technical assistance to entities with whom the Secretary 
        collaborates in the provision of case management services to 
        veterans as part of the supported housing program described in 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Grants.--The Secretary may provide training and 
        technical assistance under paragraph (1) through the award of 
        grants or contracts to appropriate public and nonprofit private 
        entities.
            (3) Funding.--From amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
        available to the Secretary in the Medical Services account in a 
        year, $500,000 shall be available to the Secretary in that year 
        to carry out this subsection.
    (f) Annual Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 545 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once 
        each year thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        submit to Congress a report on the collaboration between the 
        Secretary and eligible entities in the provision of case 
        management services as described in subsection (a) during the 
        most recently completed fiscal year.
            (2) Elements.--Each report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include, for the period covered by the report, the following:
                    (A) A discussion of each case in which a contract 
                or agreement described in subsection (a) was considered 
                by the Secretary, including a description of whether or 
                not and why the Secretary chose or did not choose to 
                enter into such contract or agreement.
                    (B) The number and types of eligible entities with 
                whom the Secretary has entered into a contract or 
                agreement as described in subsection (a).
                    (C) A description of the geographic regions in 
                which such entities provide case management services as 
                described in such subsection.
                    (D) A description of the number and types of 
                covered veterans who received case management services 
                from such entities under such contracts or agreements.
                    (E) An assessment of the performance of each 
                eligible entity with whom the Secretary entered into a 
                contract or agreement as described in subsection (a).
                    (F) An assessment of the benefits to covered 
                veterans of such contracts and agreements.
                    (G) A discussion of the benefits of increasing the 
                ratio of case managers to recipients of vouchers under 
                the supported housing program described in such 
                subsection to veterans who reside in rural areas.
                    (H) Such recommendations for legislative or 
                administrative action as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate for the improvement of collaboration in the 
                provision of case management services under such 
                supported housing program.

SEC. 305. EXTENSIONS OF PREVIOUSLY FULLY FUNDED AUTHORITIES AFFECTING 
              HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) Comprehensive Service Programs.--Section 2013 is amended by 
striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
            ``(5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
            ``(6) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each subsequent 
        fiscal year.''.
    (b) Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs.--Section 
2021(e)(1)(F) is amended by striking ``2012'' and inserting ``2013''.
    (c) Financial Assistance for Supportive Services for Very Low-
income Veteran Families in Permanent Housing.--Section 2044(e)(1) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(E) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.''.
    (d) Grant Program for Homeless Veterans With Special Needs.--
Section 2061(c)(1) is amended by striking ``through 2012'' and 
inserting ``through 2013''.

                      TITLE IV--EDUCATION MATTERS

SEC. 401. AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO 
              INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE BOTH SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' 
              EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER VETERANS AND RELATED 
              EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Aggregate Amount Available.--Section 3695 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(4), by striking ``35,''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) The aggregate period for which any person may receive 
assistance under chapter 35 of this title, on the one hand, and any of 
the provisions of law referred to in subsection (a), on the other hand, 
may not exceed 81 months (or the part-time equivalent thereof).''.
    (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take 
effect on October 1, 2013, and shall not operate to revive any 
entitlement to assistance under chapter 35 of title 38, United States 
Code, or the provisions of law referred to in section 3695(a) of such 
title, as in effect on the day before such date, that was terminated by 
reason of the operation of section 3695(a) of such title, as so in 
effect, before such date.
    (c) Revival of Entitlement Reduced by Prior Utilization of Chapter 
35 Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of 
        an individual whose period of entitlement to assistance under a 
        provision of law referred to in section 3695(a) of title 38, 
        United States Code (other than chapter 35 of such title), as in 
        effect on September 30, 2013, was reduced under such section 
        3695(a), as so in effect, by reason of the utilization of 
        entitlement to assistance under chapter 35 of such title before 
        October 1, 2013, the period of entitlement to assistance of 
        such individual under such provision shall be determined 
        without regard to any entitlement so utilized by the individual 
        under chapter 35 of such title.
            (2) Limitation.--The maximum period of entitlement to 
        assistance of an individual under paragraph (1) may not exceed 
        81 months.

SEC. 402. ANNUAL REPORTS ON POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
              AND SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Reports Required.--
            (1) In general.--Subchapter III of chapter 33 is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3325. Reporting requirement
    ``(a) In General.--For each academic year--
            ``(1) the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a 
        report on the operation of the program provided for in this 
        chapter; and
            ``(2) the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
        the operation of the program provided for in this chapter and 
        the program provided for under chapter 35 of this title.
    ``(b) Contents of Secretary of Defense Reports.--The Secretary of 
Defense shall include in each report submitted under this section--
            ``(1) information--
                    ``(A) indicating the extent to which the benefit 
                levels provided under this chapter are adequate to 
                achieve the purposes of inducing individuals to enter 
                and remain in the Armed Forces and of providing an 
                adequate level of financial assistance to help meet the 
                cost of pursuing a program of education;
                    ``(B) indicating whether it is necessary for the 
                purposes of maintaining adequate levels of well-
                qualified active-duty personnel in the Armed Forces to 
                continue to offer the opportunity for educational 
                assistance under this chapter to individuals who have 
                not yet entered active-duty service; and
                    ``(C) describing the efforts under section 3323(b) 
                of this title to inform members of the Armed Forces of 
                the active duty service requirements for entitlement to 
                educational assistance under this chapter and the 
                results from such efforts; and
            ``(2) such recommendations for administrative and 
        legislative changes regarding the provision of educational 
        assistance to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and 
        their dependents, as the Secretary of Defense considers 
        appropriate.
    ``(c) Contents of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Reports.--The 
Secretary shall include in each report submitted under this section--
            ``(1) information concerning the level of utilization of 
        educational assistance and of expenditures under this chapter 
        and under chapter 35 of this title;
            ``(2) appropriate student outcome measures, such as the 
        number of credit hours, certificates, degrees, and other 
        qualifications earned by beneficiaries under this chapter and 
        chapter 35 of this title during the academic year covered by 
        the report; and
            ``(3) such recommendations for administrative and 
        legislative changes regarding the provision of educational 
        assistance to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and 
        their dependents, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(d) Termination.--No report shall be required under this section 
after January 1, 2021.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
        item relating to section 3324 the following new item:

``3325. Reporting requirement.''.
            (3) Deadline for submittal of first report.--The first 
        reports required under section 3325 of title 38, United States 
        Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall be submitted by not 
        later than November 1, 2013.
    (b) Repeal of Report on All Volunteer-Force Educational Assistance 
Program.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 30 is amended by striking section 
        3036.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by striking the item 
        relating to section 3036.

                       TITLE V--BENEFITS MATTERS

SEC. 501. AUTOMATIC WAIVER OF AGENCY OF ORIGINAL JURISDICTION REVIEW OF 
              NEW EVIDENCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 7105 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(e)(1) If, either at the time or after the agency of original 
jurisdiction receives a substantive appeal, the claimant or the 
claimant's representative, if any, submits evidence to either the 
agency of original jurisdiction or the Board of Veterans' Appeals for 
consideration in connection with the issue or issues with which 
disagreement has been expressed, such evidence shall be subject to 
initial review by the Board unless the claimant or the claimant's 
representative, as the case may be, requests in writing that the agency 
of original jurisdiction initially review such evidence.
    ``(2) A request for review of evidence under paragraph (1) shall 
accompany the submittal of the evidence.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (e) of such section, as added by 
subsection (a), shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to 
claims for which a substantive appeal is filed on or after the date 
that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 502. AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PERSONS TO SIGN CLAIMS FILED WITH 
              SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF CLAIMANTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5101 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``A specific'' and inserting ``(1) 
                A specific''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(2) If an individual has not attained the age of 18 years, is 
mentally incompetent, or is physically unable to sign a form, a form 
filed under paragraph (1) for the individual may be signed by a court-
appointed representative, a person who is responsible for the care of 
the individual, including a spouse or other relative, or an attorney in 
fact or agent authorized to act on behalf of the individual under a 
durable power of attorney. If the individual is in the care of an 
institution, the manager or principal officer of the institution may 
sign the form.'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting ``, signs a form on behalf 
                        of an individual to apply for,'' after ``who 
                        applies for'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``, or TIN in the case 
                        that the person is not an individual,'' after 
                        ``of such person''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``dependent'' and 
                        inserting ``claimant, dependent,''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or TIN'' after 
                ``social security number'' each place it appears; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) In this section:
            ``(1) The term `mentally incompetent' with respect to an 
        individual means that the individual lacks the mental 
        capacity--
                    ``(A) to provide substantially accurate information 
                needed to complete a form; or
                    ``(B) to certify that the statements made on a form 
                are true and complete.
            ``(2) The term `TIN' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 7701(a)(41) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
    (b) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to claims filed on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 503. IMPROVEMENT OF PROCESS FOR FILING JOINTLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY 
              AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

    Section 5105 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``shall'' the first place it 
                appears and inserting ``may''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Each such form'' and inserting 
                ``Such forms''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``on such a form'' and 
        inserting ``on any document indicating an intent to apply for 
        survivor benefits''.

SEC. 504. AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION TO PROVIDE 
              NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS FOR BENEFITS UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED 
              BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5103 is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``Upon receipt of a complete or 
                substantially complete application, the'' and inserting 
                ``The'';
                    (B) by striking ``notify'' and inserting ``provide 
                to''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``by the most effective means 
                available, including electronic communication or 
                notification in writing, notice'' before ``of any 
                information''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraphs:
    ``(4) Nothing in this section shall require the Secretary to 
provide notice for a subsequent claim that is filed while a previous 
claim is pending if the notice previously provided for such pending 
claim--
            ``(A) provides sufficient notice of the information and 
        evidence necessary to substantiate such subsequent claim; and
            ``(B) was sent within one year of the date on which the 
        subsequent claim was filed.
    ``(5)(A) This section shall not apply to any claim or issue where 
the Secretary may award the maximum benefit in accordance with this 
title based on the evidence of record.
    ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `maximum benefit' 
means the highest evaluation assignable in accordance with the evidence 
of record, as long as such evidence is adequate for rating purposes and 
sufficient to grant the earliest possible effective date in accordance 
with section 5110 of this title.''.
    (b) Construction.--Nothing in the amendments made by subsection (a) 
shall be construed as eliminating any requirement with respect to the 
contents of a notice under section 5103 of title 38, United States 
Code, that is required under regulations prescribed pursuant to 
subsection (a)(2) of such section as of the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
    (c) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
        shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to 
        notification obligations of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        on or after such date.
            (2) Construction regarding applicability.--Nothing in this 
        section or the amendments made by this section shall be 
        construed to require the Secretary to carry out notification 
        procedures in accordance with requirements of section 5103 of 
        title 38, United States Code, as in effect on the day before 
        the effective date established in paragraph (1) on or after 
        such effective date.

SEC. 505. DUTY TO ASSIST CLAIMANTS IN OBTAINING PRIVATE RECORDS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 5103A is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(b) Assistance in Obtaining Private Records.--(1) As part of the 
assistance provided under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make 
reasonable efforts to obtain relevant private records that the claimant 
adequately identifies to the Secretary.
    ``(2)(A) Whenever the Secretary, after making such reasonable 
efforts, is unable to obtain all of the relevant records sought, the 
Secretary shall notify the claimant that the Secretary is unable to 
obtain records with respect to the claim. Such a notification shall--
            ``(i) identify the records the Secretary is unable to 
        obtain;
            ``(ii) briefly explain the efforts that the Secretary made 
        to obtain such records; and
            ``(iii) explain that the Secretary will decide the claim 
        based on the evidence of record but that this section does not 
        prohibit the submission of records at a later date if such 
        submission is otherwise allowed.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall make not less than two requests to a 
custodian of a private record in order for an effort to obtain relevant 
private records to be treated as reasonable under this section, unless 
it is made evident by the first request that a second request would be 
futile in obtaining such records.
    ``(3)(A) This section shall not apply if the evidence of record 
allows for the Secretary to award the maximum benefit in accordance 
with this title based on the evidence of record.
    ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `maximum benefit' 
means the highest evaluation assignable in accordance with the evidence 
of record, as long as such evidence is adequate for rating purposes and 
sufficient to grant the earliest possible effective date in accordance 
with section 5110 of this title.
    ``(4) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, the 
Secretary--
            ``(A) shall encourage claimants to submit relevant private 
        medical records of the claimant to the Secretary if such 
        submission does not burden the claimant; and
            ``(B) in obtaining relevant private records under paragraph 
        (1), may require the claimant to authorize the Secretary to 
        obtain such records if such authorization is required to comply 
        with Federal, State, or local law.''.
    (b) Public Records.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(c) Obtaining Records for Compensation Claims.--(1) In the case 
of a claim for disability compensation, the assistance provided by the 
Secretary under this section shall include obtaining the following 
records if relevant to the claim:
            ``(A) The claimant's service medical records and, if the 
        claimant has furnished the Secretary information sufficient to 
        locate such records, other relevant records pertaining to the 
        claimant's active military, naval, or air service that are held 
        or maintained by a governmental entity.
            ``(B) Records of relevant medical treatment or examination 
        of the claimant at Department health-care facilities or at the 
        expense of the Department, if the claimant furnishes 
        information sufficient to locate those records.
            ``(C) Any other relevant records held by any Federal 
        department or agency that the claimant adequately identifies 
        and authorizes the Secretary to obtain.
    ``(2) Whenever the Secretary attempts to obtain records from a 
Federal department or agency under this subsection, the efforts to 
obtain those records shall continue until the records are obtained 
unless it is reasonably certain that such records do not exist or that 
further efforts to obtain those records would be futile.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and 
        (b) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect 
        to assistance obligations of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        on or after such date.
            (2) Construction.--Nothing in this section or the 
        amendments made by this section shall be construed to require 
        the Secretary to carry out assistance in accordance with 
        requirements of section 5103A of title 38, United States Code, 
        as in effect on the day before the effective date established 
        in paragraph (1) on or after such effective date.

SEC. 506. AUTHORITY FOR RETROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR AWARDS OF 
              DISABILITY COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH APPLICATIONS 
              THAT ARE FULLY-DEVELOPED AT SUBMITTAL.

    Section 5110(b) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
        (3) and (4), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
        paragraph (2):
    ``(2)(A) The effective date of an award of disability compensation 
to a veteran who submits an application therefor that sets forth an 
original claim that is fully-developed (as determined by the Secretary) 
as of the date of submittal shall be fixed in accordance with the facts 
found, but shall not be earlier than the date that is one year before 
the date of receipt of the application.
    ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, an original claim is an 
initial claim filed by a veteran for disability compensation.
    ``(C) This paragraph shall take effect on the date that is one year 
after the date of the enactment of the Honoring America's Veterans and 
Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 and shall not apply with 
respect to claims filed after the date that is three years after the 
date of the enactment of such Act.''.

SEC. 507. MODIFICATION OF MONTH OF DEATH BENEFIT FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES 
              OF VETERANS WHO DIE WHILE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION OR 
              PENSION.

    (a) Surviving Spouse Benefit for Month of Veteran's Death.--
Subsections (a) and (b) of section 5310 are amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--(1) A surviving spouse of a veteran is entitled 
to a benefit for the month of the veteran's death if--
            ``(A) at the time of the veteran's death, the veteran was 
        receiving compensation or pension under chapter 11 or 15 of 
        this title; or
            ``(B) the veteran is determined for purposes of section 
        5121 or 5121A of this title as having been entitled to receive 
        compensation or pension under chapter 11 or 15 of this title 
        for the month of the veteran's death.
    ``(2) The amount of the benefit under paragraph (1) is the amount 
that the veteran would have received under chapter 11 or 15 of this 
title, as the case may be, for the month of the veteran's death had the 
veteran not died.
    ``(b) Claims Pending Adjudication.--If a claim for entitlement to 
compensation or additional compensation under chapter 11 of this title 
or pension or additional pension under chapter 15 of this title is 
pending at the time of a veteran's death and the check or other payment 
issued to the veteran's surviving spouse under subsection (a) is less 
than the amount of the benefit the veteran would have been entitled to 
for the month of death pursuant to the adjudication of the pending 
claim, an amount equal to the difference between the amount to which 
the veteran would have been entitled to receive under chapter 11 or 15 
of this title for the month of the veteran's death had the veteran not 
died and the amount of the check or other payment issued to the 
surviving spouse shall be treated in the same manner as an accrued 
benefit under section 5121 of this title.''.
    (b) Month of Death Benefit Exempt From Delayed Commencement of 
Payment.--Section 5111(c)(1) is amended by striking ``apply to'' and 
all that follows through ``death occurred'' and inserting the 
following: ``not apply to payments made pursuant to section 5310 of 
this title''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with 
respect to deaths that occur on or after that date.

SEC. 508. INCREASE IN RATE OF PENSION FOR DISABLED VETERANS MARRIED TO 
              ONE ANOTHER AND BOTH OF WHOM REQUIRE REGULAR AID AND 
              ATTENDANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 1521(f)(2) is amended by striking 
``$30,480'' and inserting ``$32,433''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 509. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN REIMBURSEMENTS OF EXPENSES FROM 
              DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL INCOME WITH RESPECT TO PENSIONS 
              FOR VETERANS AND SURVIVING SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF 
              VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (5) of section 1503(a) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
            ``(5) payments regarding reimbursements of any kind 
        (including insurance settlement payments) for expenses related 
        to the repayment, replacement, or repair of equipment, 
        vehicles, items, money, or property resulting from--
                    ``(A) any accident (as defined by the Secretary), 
                but the amount excluded under this subclause shall not 
                exceed the greater of the fair market value or 
                reasonable replacement value of the equipment or 
                vehicle involved at the time immediately preceding the 
                accident;
                    ``(B) any theft or loss (as defined by the 
                Secretary), but the amount excluded under this 
                subclause shall not exceed the greater of the fair 
                market value or reasonable replacement value of the 
                item or the amount of the money (including legal tender 
                of the United States or of a foreign country) involved 
                at the time immediately preceding the theft or loss; or
                    ``(C) any casualty loss (as defined by the 
                Secretary), but the amount excluded under this 
                subclause shall not exceed the greater of the fair 
                market value or reasonable replacement value of the 
                property involved at the time immediately preceding the 
                casualty loss;''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

            TITLE VI--MEMORIAL, BURIAL, AND CEMETERY MATTERS

SEC. 601. PROHIBITION ON DISRUPTIONS OF FUNERALS OF MEMBERS OR FORMER 
              MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Purpose and Authority.--
            (1) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide 
        necessary and proper support for the recruitment and retention 
        of the Armed Forces and militia employed in the service of the 
        United States by protecting the dignity of the service of the 
        members of such Forces and militia, and by protecting the 
        privacy of their immediate family members and other attendees 
        during funeral services for such members.
            (2) Constitutional authority.--Congress finds that this 
        section is a necessary and proper exercise of its powers under 
        the Constitution, article I, section 8, paragraphs 1, 12, 13, 
        14, 16, and 18, to provide for the common defense, raise and 
        support armies, provide and maintain a navy, make rules for the 
        government and regulation of the land and naval forces, and 
        provide for organizing and governing such part of the militia 
        as may be employed in the service of the United States.
    (b) Amendment to Title 18.--Section 1388 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 1388. Prohibition on disruptions of funerals of members or 
              former members of the Armed Forces
    ``(a) Prohibition.--For any funeral of a member or former member of 
the Armed Forces that is not located at a cemetery under the control of 
the National Cemetery Administration or part of Arlington National 
Cemetery, it shall be unlawful for any person to engage in an activity 
during the period beginning 120 minutes before and ending 120 minutes 
after such funeral, any part of which activity--
            ``(1)(A) takes place within the boundaries of the location 
        of such funeral or takes place within 300 feet of the point of 
        the intersection between--
                    ``(i) the boundary of the location of such funeral; 
                and
                    ``(ii) a road, pathway, or other route of ingress 
                to or egress from the location of such funeral; and
            ``(B) includes any individual willfully making or assisting 
        in the making of any noise or diversion--
                    ``(i) that is not part of such funeral and that 
                disturbs or tends to disturb the peace or good order of 
                such funeral; and
                    ``(ii) with the intent of disturbing the peace or 
                good order of such funeral;
            ``(2)(A) is within 500 feet of the boundary of the location 
        of such funeral; and
            ``(B) includes any individual--
                    ``(i) willfully and without proper authorization 
                impeding or tending to impede the access to or egress 
                from such location; and
                    ``(ii) with the intent to impede the access to or 
                egress from such location; or
            ``(3) is on or near the boundary of the residence, home, or 
        domicile of any surviving member of the deceased person's 
        immediate family and includes any individual willfully making 
        or assisting in the making of any noise or diversion--
                    ``(A) that disturbs or tends to disturb the peace 
                of the persons located at such location; and
                    ``(B) with the intent of disturbing such peace.
    ``(b) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be 
fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.
    ``(c) Civil Remedies.--
            ``(1) District courts.--The district courts of the United 
        States shall have jurisdiction--
                    ``(A) to prevent and restrain violations of this 
                section; and
                    ``(B) for the adjudication of any claims for relief 
                under this section.
            ``(2) Attorney general.--The Attorney General may institute 
        proceedings under this section.
            ``(3) Claims.--Any person, including a surviving member of 
        the deceased person's immediate family, who suffers injury as a 
        result of conduct that violates this section may--
                    ``(A) sue therefor in any appropriate United States 
                district court or in any court of competent 
                jurisdiction; and
                    ``(B) recover damages as provided in subsection (d) 
                and the cost of the suit, including reasonable 
                attorneys' fees.
            ``(4) Estoppel.--A final judgment or decree rendered in 
        favor of the United States in any criminal proceeding brought 
        by the United States under this section shall estop the 
        defendant from denying the essential allegations of the 
        criminal offense in any subsequent civil proceeding brought by 
        a person or by the United States.
    ``(d) Actual and Statutory Damages.--
            ``(1) In general.--In addition to any penalty imposed under 
        subsection (b), a violator of this section is liable in an 
        action under subsection (c) for actual or statutory damages as 
        provided in this subsection.
            ``(2) Actions by private persons.--A person bringing an 
        action under subsection (c)(3) may elect, at any time before 
        final judgment is rendered, to recover the actual damages 
        suffered by him or her as a result of the violation or, instead 
        of actual damages, an award of statutory damages for each 
        violation involved in the action.
            ``(3) Actions by attorney general.--In any action under 
        subsection (c)(2), the Attorney General is entitled to recover 
        an award of statutory damages for each violation involved in 
        the action notwithstanding any recovery under subsection 
        (c)(3).
            ``(4) Statutory damages.--A court may award, as the court 
        considers just, statutory damages in a sum of not less than 
        $25,000 or more than $50,000 per violation.
    ``(e) Rebuttable Presumption.--It shall be a rebuttable presumption 
that the violation was committed willfully for purposes of determining 
relief under this section if the violator, or a person acting in 
concert with the violator, did not have reasonable grounds to believe, 
either from the attention or publicity sought by the violator or other 
circumstance, that the conduct of such violator or person would not 
disturb or tend to disturb the peace or good order of such funeral, 
impede or tend to impede the access to or egress from such funeral, or 
disturb or tend to disturb the peace of any surviving member of the 
deceased person's immediate family who may be found on or near the 
residence, home, or domicile of the deceased person's immediate family 
on the date of the service or ceremony.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `Armed Forces' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of title 10 and includes members and former 
        members of the National Guard who were employed in the service 
        of the United States; and
            ``(2) the term `immediate family' means, with respect to a 
        person, the immediate family members of such person, as such 
        term is defined in section 115 of this title.''.
    (c) Amendment to Title 38.--
            (1) In general.--Section 2413 is amended to read as 
        follows:
``Sec. 2413. Prohibition on certain demonstrations and disruptions at 
              cemeteries under control of the National Cemetery 
              Administration and at Arlington National Cemetery
    ``(a) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any person--
            ``(1) to carry out a demonstration on the property of a 
        cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery 
        Administration or on the property of Arlington National 
        Cemetery unless the demonstration has been approved by the 
        cemetery superintendent or the director of the property on 
        which the cemetery is located; or
            ``(2) with respect to such a cemetery, to engage in a 
        demonstration during the period beginning 120 minutes before 
        and ending 120 minutes after a funeral, memorial service, or 
        ceremony is held, any part of which demonstration--
                    ``(A)(i) takes place within the boundaries of such 
                cemetery or takes place within 300 feet of the point of 
                the intersection between--
                            ``(I) the boundary of such cemetery; and
                            ``(II) a road, pathway, or other route of 
                        ingress to or egress from such cemetery; and
                    ``(ii) includes any individual willfully making or 
                assisting in the making of any noise or diversion--
                            ``(I) that is not part of such funeral, 
                        memorial service, or ceremony and that disturbs 
                        or tends to disturb the peace or good order of 
                        such funeral, memorial service, or ceremony; 
                        and
                            ``(II) with the intent of disturbing the 
                        peace or good order of such funeral, memorial 
                        service, or ceremony; or
                    ``(B)(i) is within 500 feet of the boundary of such 
                cemetery; and
                    ``(ii) includes any individual--
                            ``(I) willfully and without proper 
                        authorization impeding or tending to impede the 
                        access to or egress from such cemetery; and
                            ``(II) with the intent to impede the access 
                        to or egress from such cemetery.
    ``(b) Penalty.--Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be 
fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
    ``(c) Civil Remedies.--(1) The district courts of the United States 
shall have jurisdiction--
            ``(A) to prevent and restrain violations of this section; 
        and
            ``(B) for the adjudication of any claims for relief under 
        this section.
    ``(2) The Attorney General of the United States may institute 
proceedings under this section.
    ``(3) Any person, including a surviving member of the deceased 
person's immediate family, who suffers injury as a result of conduct 
that violates this section may--
            ``(A) sue therefor in any appropriate United States 
        district court or in any court of competent jurisdiction; and
            ``(B) recover damages as provided in subsection (d) and the 
        cost of the suit, including reasonable attorneys' fees.
    ``(4) A final judgment or decree rendered in favor of the United 
States in any criminal proceeding brought by the United States under 
this section shall estop the defendant from denying the essential 
allegations of the criminal offense in any subsequent civil proceeding 
brought by a person or by the United States.
    ``(d) Actual and Statutory Damages.--(1) In addition to any penalty 
imposed under subsection (b), a violator of this section is liable in 
an action under subsection (c) for actual or statutory damages as 
provided in this subsection.
    ``(2) A person bringing an action under subsection (c)(3) may 
elect, at any time before final judgment is rendered, to recover the 
actual damages suffered by him or her as a result of the violation or, 
instead of actual damages, an award of statutory damages for each 
violation involved in the action.
    ``(3) In any action brought under subsection (c)(2), the Attorney 
General is entitled to recover an award of statutory damages for each 
violation involved in the action notwithstanding any recovery under 
subsection (c)(3).
    ``(4) A court may award, as the court considers just, statutory 
damages in a sum of not less than $25,000 or more than $50,000 per 
violation.
    ``(e) Rebuttable Presumption.--It shall be a rebuttable presumption 
that the violation of subsection (a) was committed willfully for 
purposes of determining relief under this section if the violator, or a 
person acting in concert with the violator, did not have reasonable 
grounds to believe, either from the attention or publicity sought by 
the violator or other circumstance, that the conduct of such violator 
or person would not--
            ``(1) disturb or tend to disturb the peace or good order of 
        such funeral, memorial service, or ceremony; or
            ``(2) impede or tend to impede the access to or egress from 
        such funeral, memorial service, or ceremony.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `demonstration' includes--
                    ``(A) any picketing or similar conduct;
                    ``(B) any oration, speech, use of sound 
                amplification equipment or device, or similar conduct 
                that is not part of a funeral, memorial service, or 
                ceremony;
                    ``(C) the display of any placard, banner, flag, or 
                similar device, unless such a display is part of a 
                funeral, memorial service, or ceremony; and
                    ``(D) the distribution of any handbill, pamphlet, 
                leaflet, or other written or printed matter other than 
                a program distributed as part of a funeral, memorial 
                service, or ceremony; and
            ``(2) the term `immediate family' means, with respect to a 
        person, the immediate family members of such person, as such 
        term is defined in section 115 of title 18.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 24 is amended by striking the item 
        relating to section 2413 and inserting the following new item:

``2413. Prohibition on certain demonstrations and disruptions at 
                            cemeteries under control of the National 
                            Cemetery Administration and at Arlington 
                            National Cemetery.''.

SEC. 602. CODIFICATION OF PROHIBITION AGAINST RESERVATION OF GRAVESITES 
              AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 24 is amended by inserting after section 
2410 the following new section:
``Sec. 2410A. Arlington National Cemetery: other administrative matters
    ``(a) One Gravesite.--(1) Not more than one gravesite may be 
provided at Arlington National Cemetery to a veteran or member of the 
Armed Forces who is eligible for interment or inurnment at such 
cemetery.
    ``(2) The Secretary of the Army may waive the prohibition in 
paragraph (1) as the Secretary of the Army considers appropriate.
    ``(b) Prohibition Against Reservation of Gravesites.--(1) A 
gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery may not be reserved for an 
individual before the death of such individual.
    ``(2)(A) The President may waive the prohibition in paragraph (1) 
as the President considers appropriate.
    ``(B) Upon waiving the prohibition in paragraph (1), the President 
shall submit notice of such waiver to--
            ``(i) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee 
        on Armed Services of the Senate; and
            ``(ii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee 
        on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
2410 the following new item:

``2410A. Arlington National Cemetery: other administrative matters.''.
    (c) Applicability.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        section 2410A of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
        subsection (a), shall apply with respect to all interments at 
        Arlington National Cemetery after the date of the enactment of 
        this Act.
            (2) Exception.--Subsection (b) of such section, as so 
        added, shall not apply with respect to the interment of an 
        individual for whom a request for a reserved gravesite was 
        approved by the Secretary of the Army before January 1, 1962.
    (d) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall 
        submit to Congress a report on reservations made for interment 
        at Arlington National Cemetery.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) The number of requests for reservation of a 
                gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery that were 
                submitted to the Secretary of the Army before January 
                1, 1962.
                    (B) The number of gravesites at such cemetery that, 
                on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
                Act, were reserved in response to such requests.
                    (C) The number of such gravesites that, on the day 
                before the date of the enactment of this Act, were 
                unoccupied.
                    (D) A list of all reservations for gravesites at 
                such cemetery that were extended by individuals 
                responsible for management of such cemetery in response 
                to requests for such reservations made on or after 
                January 1, 1962.
                    (E) A description of the measures that the 
                Secretary is taking to improve the accountability and 
                transparency of the management of gravesite 
                reservations at Arlington National Cemetery.
                    (F) Such recommendations as the Secretary may have 
                for legislative action as the Secretary considers 
                necessary to improve such accountability and 
                transparency.

SEC. 603. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL 
              CERTIFICATES TO PERSONS WHO DIED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY, 
              NAVAL, OR AIR SERVICE.

    Section 112(a) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``and persons who died in the active 
        military, naval, or air service,'' after ``under honorable 
        conditions,''; and
            (2) by striking ``veteran's'' and inserting ``deceased 
        individual's''.

SEC. 604. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF MONUMENTS IN ARLINGTON 
              NATIONAL CEMETERY.

    Section 2409(b) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Under'' and inserting ``(1) Under'';
            (2) by inserting after ``Secretary of the Army'' the 
        following: ``and subject to paragraph (2)''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(2)(A) Except for a monument containing or marking interred 
remains, no monument (or similar structure, as determined by the 
Secretary of the Army in regulations) may be placed in Arlington 
National Cemetery except pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
    ``(B) A monument may be placed in Arlington National Cemetery if 
the monument commemorates--
            ``(i) the service in the Armed Forces of the individual, or 
        group of individuals, whose memory is to be honored by the 
        monument; or
            ``(ii) a particular military event.
    ``(C) No monument may be placed in Arlington National Cemetery 
until the end of the 25-year period beginning--
            ``(i) in the case of the commemoration of service under 
        subparagraph (B)(i), on the last day of the period of service 
        so commemorated; and
            ``(ii) in the case of the commemoration of a particular 
        military event under subparagraph (B)(ii), on the last day of 
        the period of the event.
    ``(D) A monument may be placed only in those sections of Arlington 
National Cemetery designated by the Secretary of the Army for such 
placement and only on land the Secretary determines is not suitable for 
burial.
    ``(E) A monument may only be placed in Arlington National Cemetery 
if an appropriate nongovernmental entity has agreed to act as a 
sponsoring organization to coordinate the placement of the monument 
and--
            ``(i) the construction and placement of the monument are 
        paid for only using funds from private sources;
            ``(ii) the Secretary of the Army consults with the 
        Commission of Fine Arts and the Advisory Committee on Arlington 
        National Cemetery before approving the design of the monument; 
        and
            ``(iii) the sponsoring organization provides for an 
        independent study on the availability and suitability of 
        alternative locations for the proposed monument outside of 
        Arlington National Cemetery.
    ``(3)(A) The Secretary of the Army may waive the requirement under 
paragraph (2)(C) in a case in which the monument would commemorate a 
group of individuals who the Secretary determines--
            ``(i) has made valuable contributions to the Armed Forces 
        that have been ongoing and perpetual for longer than 25 years 
        and are expected to continue on indefinitely; and
            ``(ii) has provided service that is of such a character 
        that the failure to place a monument to the group in Arlington 
        National Cemetery would present a manifest injustice.
    ``(B) If the Secretary waives such requirement under subparagraph 
(A), the Secretary shall--
            ``(i) make available on an Internet website notification of 
        the waiver and the rationale for the waiver; and
            ``(ii) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
        Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the 
        House of Representatives written notice of the waiver and the 
        rationale for the waiver.
    ``(4) The Secretary of the Army shall provide notice to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of 
the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives of any monument proposed 
to be placed in Arlington National Cemetery. During the 60-day period 
beginning on the date on which such notice is received, Congress may 
pass a joint resolution of disapproval of the placement of the 
monument. The proposed monument may not be placed in Arlington National 
Cemetery until the later of--
            ``(A) if Congress does not pass a joint resolution of 
        disapproval of the placement of the monument, the date that is 
        60 days after the date on which notice is received under this 
        paragraph; or
            ``(B) if Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval 
        of the placement of the monument, and the President signs a 
        veto of such resolution, the earlier of--
                    ``(i) the date on which either House of Congress 
                votes and fails to override the veto of the President; 
                or
                    ``(ii) the date that is 30 session days after the 
                date on which Congress received the veto and objections 
                of the President.''.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 701. ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.

    (a) Additional Grants for Disabled Veterans for Specially Adapted 
Housing.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 21 is amended by adding at the end 
        the following new section:
``Sec. 2109. Specially adapted housing destroyed or damaged by natural 
              disasters
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2102 
and 2102A of this title, the Secretary may provide assistance to a 
veteran whose home was previously adapted with assistance of a grant 
under this chapter in the event the adapted home which was being used 
and occupied by the veteran was destroyed or substantially damaged in a 
natural or other disaster, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--Subject to subsection (c), assistance provided 
under subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) be available to acquire a suitable housing unit with 
        special fixtures or moveable facilities made necessary by the 
        veteran's disability, and necessary land therefor;
            ``(2) be available to a veteran to the same extent as if 
        the veteran had not previously received assistance under this 
        chapter; and
            ``(3) not be deducted from the maximum uses or from the 
        maximum amount of assistance available under this chapter.
    ``(c) Limitations.--The amount of the assistance provided under 
subsection (a) may not exceed the lesser of--
            ``(1) the reasonable cost, as determined by the Secretary, 
        of repairing or replacing the damaged or destroyed home in 
        excess of the available insurance coverage on such home; or
            ``(2) the maximum amount of assistance to which the veteran 
        would have been entitled under sections 2101(a), 2101(b), and 
        2102A of this title had the veteran not obtained previous 
        assistance under this chapter.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
        item relating to section 2108 the following new item:

``2109. Specially adapted housing destroyed or damaged by natural 
                            disasters.''.
    (b) Extension of Subsistence Allowance for Veterans Completing 
Vocational Rehabilitation Program.--Section 3108(a)(2) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``In''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran 
described in subparagraph (A) has been displaced as the result of a 
natural or other disaster while being paid a subsistence allowance 
under that subparagraph, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary 
may extend the payment of a subsistence allowance under such 
subparagraph for up to an additional two months while the veteran is 
satisfactorily following a program of employment services described in 
such subparagraph.''.
    (c) Waiver of Limitation on Program of Independent Living Services 
and Assistance.--Section 3120(e) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``Programs''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) The limitation in paragraph (1) shall not apply in any case 
in which the Secretary determines that a veteran described in 
subsection (b) has been displaced as the result of, or has otherwise 
been adversely affected in the areas covered by, a natural or other 
disaster, as determined by the Secretary.''.
    (d) Covenants and Liens Created by Public Entities in Response to 
Disaster-Relief Assistance.--Paragraph (3) of section 3703(d) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(3)(A) Any real estate housing loan (other than for repairs, 
alterations, or improvements) shall be secured by a first lien on the 
realty. In determining whether a loan is so secured, the Secretary may 
either disregard or allow for subordination to a superior lien created 
by a duly recorded covenant running with the realty in favor of either 
of the following:
            ``(i) A public entity that has provided or will provide 
        assistance in response to a major disaster as determined by the 
        President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).
            ``(ii) A private entity to secure an obligation to such 
        entity for the homeowner's share of the costs of the 
        management, operation, or maintenance of property, services, or 
        programs within and for the benefit of the development or 
        community in which the veteran's realty is located, if the 
        Secretary determines that the interests of the veteran borrower 
        and of the Government will not be prejudiced by the operation 
        of such covenant.
    ``(B) With respect to any superior lien described in subparagraph 
(A) created after June 6, 1969, the Secretary's determination under 
clause (ii) of such subparagraph shall have been made prior to the 
recordation of the covenant.''.
    (e) Automobiles and Other Conveyances for Certain Disabled Veterans 
and Members of the Armed Forces.--Section 3903(a) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``No'' and inserting ``(1) Except as 
        provided in paragraph (2), no''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) The Secretary may provide or assist in providing an eligible 
person with a second automobile or other conveyance under this chapter 
if--
            ``(A) the Secretary receives satisfactory evidence that the 
        automobile or other conveyance previously purchased with 
        assistance under this chapter was destroyed--
                    ``(i) as a result of a natural or other disaster, 
                as determined by the Secretary; and
                    ``(ii) through no fault of the eligible person; and
            ``(B) the eligible person does not otherwise receive from a 
        property insurer compensation for the loss.''.
    (f) Annual Report.--
            (1) In general.--Each year, the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs shall submit to Congress a report on the assistance 
        provided or action taken by the Secretary in the last fiscal 
        year pursuant to the authorities added by the amendments made 
        by this section.
            (2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following for the fiscal year covered by the 
        report:
                    (A) A description of each natural disaster for 
                which assistance was provided or action was taken as 
                described in paragraph (1).
                    (B) The number of cases or individuals, as the case 
                may be, in which or to whom the Secretary provided 
                assistance or took action as described in paragraph 
                (1).
                    (C) For each such case or individual, a description 
                of the type or amount of assistance or action taken, as 
                the case may be.
    (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 702. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF LAW.

    (a) Pool of Mortgage Loans.--Section 3720(h)(2) is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
    (b) Loan Fees.--Section 3729(b)(2) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``October 1, 
                2016'' and inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
                    (B) in clause (iv), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017'';
            (3) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
            (4) in subparagraph (D)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``October 1, 2016'' 
                and inserting ``October 1, 2017''.
    (c) Temporary Adjustment of Maximum Home Loan Guaranty Amount.--
Section 501 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 (Public 
Law 110-389; 122 Stat. 4175; 38 U.S.C. 3703 note) is amended by 
striking ``December 31, 2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2014''.

SEC. 703. REQUIREMENT FOR PLAN FOR REGULAR ASSESSMENT OF EMPLOYEES OF 
              VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION WHO HANDLE PROCESSING OF 
              CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION AND PENSION.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
of the House of Representatives a plan that describes how the Secretary 
will--
            (1) regularly assess the skills and competencies of 
        appropriate employees and managers of the Veterans Benefits 
        Administration who are responsible for processing claims for 
        compensation and pension benefits administered by the 
        Secretary;
            (2) provide training to those employees whose skills and 
        competencies are assessed as unsatisfactory by the regular 
        assessment described in paragraph (1), to remediate 
        deficiencies in such skills and competencies;
            (3) reassess the skills and competencies of employees who 
        receive training as described in paragraph (2); and
            (4) take appropriate personnel action if, following 
        training and reassessment as described in paragraphs (2) and 
        (3), respectively, skills and competencies remain 
        unsatisfactory.

SEC. 704. MODIFICATION OF PROVISION RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR 
              AMBULANCE SERVICES.

    Section 111(b)(3)(C) is amended by striking ``under subparagraph 
(B)'' and inserting ``to or from a Department facility''.

SEC. 705. CHANGE IN COLLECTION AND VERIFICATION OF VETERAN INCOME.

    Section 1722(f)(1) is amended by striking ``the previous year'' and 
inserting ``the most recent year for which information is available''.

SEC. 706. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ENFORCEMENT PENALTIES FOR 
              MISREPRESENTATION OF A BUSINESS CONCERN AS A SMALL 
              BUSINESS CONCERN OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY VETERANS OR AS A 
              SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY SERVICE-
              DISABLED VETERANS.

    Subsection (g) of section 8127 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Any business'' and inserting ``(1) Any 
        business'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), as so designated--
                    (A) by inserting ``willfully and intentionally'' 
                before ``misrepresented''; and
                    (B) by striking ``a reasonable period of time, as 
                determined by the Secretary'' and inserting ``a period 
                of not less than five years''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(2) In the case of a debarment under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall commence debarment action against the business concern by not 
later than 30 days after determining that the concern willfully and 
intentionally misrepresented the status of the concern as described in 
paragraph (1) and shall complete debarment actions against such concern 
by not later than 90 days after such determination.
    ``(3) The debarment of a business concern under paragraph (1) 
includes the debarment of all principals in the business concern for a 
period of not less than five years.''.

SEC. 707. QUARTERLY REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON CONFERENCES SPONSORED BY THE 
              DEPARTMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 5 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section:
``Sec. 517. Quarterly reports to Congress on conferences sponsored by 
              the Department
    ``(a) Quarterly Reports Required.--Not later than 30 days after the 
end of each fiscal quarter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on covered 
conferences.
    ``(b) Matters Included.--Each report under subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            ``(1) An accounting of the final costs to the Department of 
        each covered conference occurring during the fiscal quarter 
        preceding the date on which the report is submitted, including 
        the costs related to--
                    ``(A) transportation and parking;
                    ``(B) per diem payments;
                    ``(C) lodging;
                    ``(D) rental of halls, auditoriums, or other 
                spaces;
                    ``(E) rental of equipment;
                    ``(F) refreshments;
                    ``(G) entertainment;
                    ``(H) contractors; and
                    ``(I) brochures or other printed media.
            ``(2) The total estimated costs to the Department for 
        covered conferences occurring during the fiscal quarter in 
        which the report is submitted.
    ``(c) Covered Conference Defined.--In this section, the term 
`covered conference' means a conference, meeting, or other similar 
forum that is sponsored or co-sponsored by the Department and is--
            ``(1) attended by 50 or more individuals, including one or 
        more employees of the Department; or
            ``(2) estimated to cost the Department at least $20,000.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 
516 the following:

``517. Quarterly reports to Congress on conferences sponsored by the 
                            Department.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--Section 517 of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1, 2012, and 
shall apply with respect to the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 and 
each quarter thereafter.

SEC. 708. PUBLICATION OF DATA ON EMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN VETERANS BY 
              FEDERAL CONTRACTORS.

    Section 4212(d) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
    ``(3) The Secretary of Labor shall establish and maintain an 
Internet website on which the Secretary of Labor shall publicly 
disclose the information reported to the Secretary of Labor by 
contractors under paragraph (1).''.

SEC. 709. VETSTAR AWARD PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 532 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Secretary may'' and inserting `` (a) 
        Advertising in National Media.--The Secretary may''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) VetStar Award Program.--(1) The Secretary shall establish an 
award program, to be known as the `VetStar Award Program', to recognize 
annually businesses for their contributions to veterans' employment.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall establish a process for the 
administration of the award program, including criteria for--
            ``(A) categories and sectors of businesses eligible for 
        recognition each year; and
            ``(B) objective measures to be used in selecting businesses 
        to receive the award.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--
            (1) Section heading.--The heading of such section is 
        amended by adding at the end the following: ``; VetStar Award 
        Program''.
            (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 5 is amended by striking the item relating 
        to section 532 and inserting the following new item:

``532. Authority to advertise in national media; VetStar Award 
                            Program.''.

SEC. 710. EXTENDED PERIOD OF PROTECTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF UNIFORMED 
              SERVICES RELATING TO MORTGAGES, MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE, AND 
              EVICTION.

    (a) Stay of Proceedings and Period of Adjustment of Obligations 
Relating to Real or Personal Property.--Section 303(b) of the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533(b)) is amended by 
striking ``within 9 months'' and inserting ``within one year''.
    (b) Period of Relief From Sale, Foreclosure, or Seizure.--Section 
303(c) of such Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533(c)) is amended by striking 
``within 9 months'' and inserting ``within one year''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
    (d) Extension of Sunset.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and 
        (b) shall expire on December 31, 2014.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (c) of section 2203 
        of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 
        110-289; 50 U.S.C. App. 533 note) is amended to read as 
        follows:
    ``(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.''.
            (3) Revival.--Effective January 1, 2015, the provisions of 
        subsections (b) and (c) of section 303 of the Servicemembers 
        Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533), as in effect on July 29, 
        2008, are hereby revived.
    (e) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 540 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
        United States shall submit to Congress a report on the 
        protections provided under section 303 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 
        App 533) during the five-year period ending on the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include, for the period described in such paragraph, the 
        following:
                    (A) An assessment of the effects of such section on 
                the long-term financial well-being of servicemembers 
                and their families.
                    (B) The number of servicemembers who faced 
                foreclosure during a 90-day period, 270-day period, or 
                365-day period beginning on the date on which the 
                servicemembers completed a period of military service.
                    (C) The number of servicemembers who applied for a 
                stay or adjustment under subsection (b) of such 
                section.
                    (D) A description and assessment of the effect of 
                applying for a stay or adjustment under such subsection 
                on the financial well-being of the servicemembers who 
                applied for such a stay or adjustment.
                    (E) An assessment of the Secretary of Defense's 
                partnerships with public and private sector entities 
                and recommendations on how the Secretary should modify 
                such partnerships to improve financial education and 
                counseling for servicemembers in order to assist them 
                in achieving long-term financial stability.
            (3) Period of military service and servicemember defined.--
        In this subsection, the terms ``period of military service'' 
        and ``servicemember'' have the meanings given such terms in 
        section 101 of such Act (50 U.S.C. App. 511).

            Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act A bill to amend 
        title 38, United States Code, to furnish hospital care and 
        medical services to veterans who were stationed at Camp 
        Lejeune, North Carolina, while the water was contaminated at 
        Camp Lejeune, to improve the provision of housing assistance to 
        veterans and their families, and for other purposes.''.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
112th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H.R. 1627

_______________________________________________________________________

                               AMENDMENTS
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